Tunnel lining



A. FO UKAL TUNNEL LIN ING' Nov. 9, 1937,

Filed June 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gvvuc wto m ANTHONY FUUKAL A. FOUKAL TUNNEL LINING Nov. 9, 1937.

Filed June 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v H mf a 9, ,m: I l o M"; T

ANTHONY FOUKAL Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TUNNEL LINING Application June 24, 1936, Serial No. 87,089

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to tunnels driven by the shield method, wherein a shield is driven through the ground by means of powerful hydraulic jacks, and a lining for the tunnel is constructed in the tail of the shield, and wherein the already constructed portion of the lining is used to take the thrust of the hydraulic jacks in pushing the shield ahead. Such linings are commonly constructed of successive courses of steel liner plates, the courses being assembled in the tail of the shield as the tunnel driving progresses. Where the liner plates making up the lining do not provide suflicient resistance to such thrust, which is exerted longitudinally upon the lining, means must be provided to withstand it in order to prevent the lining from being damaged.

It is common practice, where ground conditions make it necessary, to use suitable structural members between the successive courses of liner plates to support excessively heavy ground; but such structural members of course provide insuflicient resistance to the thrust of the shield driving jacks.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel combination in a lining structure of both permanent and removable thrust-receiving members, which will provide not only suflicient strength to support the ground loading or circumferential load, but will also effectively resist the thrust exerted by the shield jacks.

Another object is to provide such a structure which will reduce to a minimum the amount of steel required to serve both purposes, and thus reduce to a very material degree the amount of steel that must be permanently left in place.

Still another object is to provide a lining structure including both permanent and temporary longitudinal thrust-resisting strut members, in which the latter are located directly in line with the former, so as to provide a perfect continuity of thrust-resisting members throughout that length of tunnel necessary to take the full thrust of the shield driving jacks.

Still another object is to provide removable thrust members that in addition to their thrustreceiving function, can be utilized to adjust the position of successive courses in order to take up.

any variation or slack in the assembly of such courses.

The use of removable thrust-members permits the jacks in the rear of the tunnel to be removed to a forward position immediately in therear of the jacks as the lining progresses.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is anend elevation partly in section of a lining structure.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing a side elevation of a section of the lining.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a section of a lining.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation showing means for initially positioning the removable thrust members.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of a portion of one of the members, showing the preferred type of thread.

Describing the drawings more particularly, the liner plates are designated 8, and each comprises a backing or skin plate 9, the said skin plate being curved to conform to the circumference of the tunnel, and having along its straight edges end flanges l0, and along its curved edges side flanges H. Y

The term side as applied to the plates refers to the long or curved edge, and the term end refers to the short or straight edge which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tunnel.

The liner plates are of weight and size suited to their use as determined by the conditions under which the tunnel is built, and the flanges are desirably formed integrally with the skin plate and continuously around its edges. The flanges l0 and H are pierced by suitable openings for the reception of bolts [2 or other fastenings for securing the plates together and to the supporting structure.

Between the adjacent courses of plates are located circumferential load-resisting members, here shown as I-beams', l3, although any suitable structural shape of proper weight and strain-resisting qualities may be members II are pierced by openings through which pass the bolts l2 that secure together the plates composing adjacent courses.

The joints between the end flanges In of the plates of one course,'as M, are staggered with relation to those of the next course l5, and are in line with those of the next course but one 16, this arrangement being preferable for considerations of strength, etc., in the finished lining. Between the end flanges ll! of adjacent plates are interposed longitudinal thrust-receiving members which in this embodiment are shown as T-beams l'l having flanges l8 interposed between the flanges l0, and heads I! disposed inwardly of the inner margins of the flanges. The ends of these members are in abutting relation with the circumferential load-receiving members ll, so that the thrust exerted upon the end of the liner by the hydraulic jacks is transmitted longitudinally through the members I! to the members I3.

the line 4-4 used. The

The thrust-resisting members ll of adjacent 60 the members It, and properly spaced to'receive the plates.

- In order to overcome this without increasing the amount of steel permanently mounteu in the lining and left in place, the removable thrustreceiving jacks or struts 20 are installed in the courses in the manner shown in the drawings as the mining progresses. 20 at present considered preferable is best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, wherein each jack comprises a body portion in the form of an elongated member 2| having a central faced off angular portion 22 for engagement by a spanner or other wrench. The body portion 2| has extending therethrough a bore 23, the end portions of which are oppositely threaded, as at 24 and 2!.

Threaded into the ends of the bore 23 are threaded stems 26 and 21 having squared of! heads 28, the ends of which act as engaging surfaces. It will be understood that upon turning the body portion 2| with relation to the stems 26 and 21, the latter will be either extended or inwardly drawn.

Theform of thread shown in Figure 6 is considered'preferable due to the fact that it gives great resistance to the strain exerted between the body and the stems. I The use of these devices will be clearly understood by reference to Figures 2 and 3. The jacks 20 are intended to be positionedbetween adjacent members l3, the surfaces of which they abut, and in end to end relation with the thrustreceiving members ll of the courses on either side of the one in which the member 20 is placed. It will be seen that with jacks as positioned, the thrust exerted by one of the members I! of one course, as It, will be transmitted through a member I3 to a jackpositioned in the next course, as I5, and thereafter to the member I! of the next rearward course, as II. The threaded engagement between the two stems and the body portion besides permitting the ready insertion It inwardly of the flanges II and in direct abutting relation with the surfaces of the members II.

In order to fix the position. of the jacks with respect to the members I! of adjacent courses, lugs 29 may be welded in pairs to-the surfaces of between them the squared ends of the stems. The inner edges of the flanges II also operate to properlyposition theends of the stems.

By the .combination of this lining structure with the removable struts, the advantages gained by the use of courses of relatively staggered plates may be retained and a great saving in the weight of steel used in the lining may be effected. The various permanent elements-are of suitable size and weight so that the combination of the two side flanges ,III of the liner plates with the structural members bolted, between them will,

with the removable adjustable strut members or The form of these lacks thrust oi! the hydraulic jacks which propel the shields.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the con- 'struction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apP -l' nt to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim, is:

1. In a tunnel lining including a series of courses of liner plates, and circumferential loadbearing members between the courses, thrustresisting members permanently mounted be-" tween adjacent plates in each, course, the ends of the said members being in abutting relation with the circumferential load-bearing members.-

2. In a tunnel lining, including permanent longitudinal thrust-resisting members in spaced end to end relation, and temporary thrust-resisting members removably mounted between and in sisting members mounted between the plates of the courses and in abutting relation with the circumferential load-bearing members, the thrustresisting members of one course being in staggered relation with those of the two adjacent courses, a plurality of lugs mounted upon the circumferential load-bearing members for engaging ends of the temporary thrust-resisting members, the lugs being properly spaced upon the load bearing members to position the 'temporary members in end-to-end relation with the permanent members of the adjacent courses.

4. In a tunnel lining including a series of courses of liner plates the combination with a plurality of longitudinal thrust-resisting permanent members assembled with the liner plates,

" the thrust-resisting members of each course becourses composed of liner plates having flanges along their sides and ends, and circumferential load-bearing members of greater height than the flanges positioned between adjacent courses, the combination of permanent longitudinal thrustresisting members of greater height than the flanges, mounted in the courses between the flanges of adjacent plates with their ends abutting the circumferential load-bearing members, and temporary thrust-resisting members removably mounted beyond the margins of the flanges of the plates and between the circumferential load-bearing members, and between and in end to end relation with thepermanent longitudinal thrust-resisting members of the adjacent courses.

ANTHONY- FOUKAL. 

